Thesis Format
Integrated Article
Degree
Master of Health Information Science
Program
Health Information Science
Supervisor
Booth, Richard G
2nd Supervisor
Leslie, Kathleen
Affiliation
Athabasca University
Abstract
Virtual care implements technology to provide and receive healthcare services remotely. This study aims to (1) explain and understand the evaluation methods used to assess virtual care; (2) generate equity-focused implications based on the current virtual care evaluation methods; (3) apply the 3I+E Framework to analyze Personal Health Information Privacy Act (PHIPA) modernization amendments, their impact on virtual care; and (4) explore the impact existing personal health information (PHI) privacy-related virtual care legislation may have on marginalized communities. The scoping review’s findings indicate an excessive focus on quantitative methods, while equity-laden dimensions (e.g. access and PHI privacy) are underrepresented. The policy analysis found that current PHIPA amendments did not provide adequate protections for consumers’ PHI. Adopting a multifaceted approach involving PHIPA modernization amendments, targeted education, increasing virtual care access, and increased policy enforcement could mitigate the disproportionate PHI privacy risks marginalized communities may face when using virtual care services.
Summary for Lay Audience
Traditional in-person care involves a patient going to the doctor’s office and receiving treatment. Whereas virtual care involves the patient receiving care remotely (e.g. at home) through digital technology (e.g. videoconferencing and phone calls). This study consisted of a scoping review and corresponding policy analysis. A scoping review involves searching relevant literature sources, extracting data, and analyzing this data to present findings. This scoping review focused on analyzing how virtual care is being evaluated in the research literature. Findings indicated an overrepresentation of quantitative (numerical) virtual care evaluation methods in comparison to qualitative approaches and an underrepresentation of equity-related considerations (e.g. access, personal health information privacy) in the virtual care evaluation process. A policy analysis consists of analyzing the influences on policy to understand how policies are shaped. This policy analysis focused on determining the influences on the Personal Health Information and Privacy Act (PHIPA) modernization process. PHIPA is the primary legislation in Ontario regulating virtual care services. The policy analysis found that existing PHIPA amendments did not go far enough, concluding that the amendments recommended by the Information and Privacy Commissioner should be adopted to improve virtual care-related personal health information privacy in Ontario. The findings also indicated that a multifaceted approach involving PHIPA modernization amendments, targeted education, increasing virtual care access, and increased policy enforcement could contribute to alleviating the potentially disproportionate impact encountered by marginalized populations when using virtual care services.
Recommended Citation
Dhaliwal, Sandeep, "Virtual Care Evaluation Methods and Ontario Privacy Policy" (2024). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 10002.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/10002
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